Tool for applying electrical terminals

ABSTRACT

A tool is provided for installing female electrical terminals onto male electrical terminals, the tool comprising a head member having opposed sidewall portions which encompass the female terminal sufficiently to limit the deformation thereof during installation, and having at least one stop portion to limit the relative movement of the female terminal and the head member. An elongate handle is secured to the head member and disposed at an angle thereto sufficient to minimize interference with any electrical conductors secured to the female terminal.

United States Patent Marshall T. Harris Louisville, Ky.

July 1, 1969 Apr. 13, 1971 General Electric Company Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee TOOL FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL TERMINALS 5 Claims, 8 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 29/203,

29/206, 29/280 Int. Cl H011 43/00 Field of Search 29/203 (H),

203 (HC), 203 (HT), 203 (HM), 206, 278, 280; 81/3,52.35

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,907,241 10/1959 Lazar 81/5235 3,279,044 10/1966 Roper 29/206 Primary Examiner--Granvi|le Y. Custer, Jr. Attorneys-James E. Espe, Harry F. Manbeck, Jr., Joseph B.

Forman, Oscar B. Waddell and Frank L. Neuhauser ABSTRACT: A tool is provided for installing female electrical terminals onto male electrical terminals, the tool comprising a head member having opposed sidewall portions which encompass the female terminal sufficiently to limit the deformation thereof during installation, and having at least one stop portion to limit the relative movement of the female terminal and the head member. An elongate handle is secured to the head member and disposed at an angle thereto sufficient to minimize interference with any electrical conductors secured to the female terminal.

PATENTED APR 1 3 I97! INVENTOR. MARSHALL T HARRlS BY 5 fif /ATTORNEY TOOL FOR APPLYING ELECTRICAL TERMINALS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to a tool adapted to install wire-carrying female electrical terminals upon male electrical terminals.

The use of wiring harnesses having conductors which terminate in standardized female electrical terminals has become commonplace in many arenas of mass production. Switches, pilot light, gauges, motors and the like are commonly adapted for connection to such wiring harnesses by the provision of male electrical terminals which extend rigidly outwardly from such devices. These male terminals may then be connected to the wiring harness by installing the appropriate harness female terminals onto the male terminals, it being understood that the female terminals are adapted to frictionally retain their position on the male terminals once installed. I

Difficulties arise in installing the female electrical terminals on devices having a large number of male tenninals extending outwardly therefrom in closely spaced arrangement, which arrangement may leave insufficient manipulating room for the human hand. A variety of terminal installation tools have been proposed to overcome this problem. However, most such tools have been found to be inadequate for various reasons,

primarily because they do not limit the deformation of the female terminal during installation onto the male terminal, whereby the female terminal may deform so as to mate loosely with the male terminal leaving a faulty connection. A further difficulty arises in that such prior installation tools frequently interfere with one or more of the electrical conductors secured to the female terminal, whereby such conductors, and frequently the terminals themselves, have to be deformed in order to permit the employment ,of the tool.

It is therefore an object of may invention to provide a tool adapted to install a wire-carrying female electrical terminal onto a male electrical terminal enabling a proper electrical connection therebetween.

It is a further object of my invention to provide such a tool which limits the deformation of the female electrical terminal during installation onto a male electrical terminal.

It is still a further object of my invention to provide such a tool which minimizes interference with the electrical conductors connected to the female terminals whereby no deformation of such conductors or the terminal is required in order to use the tool.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a tool adapted to releasably engage and carry a female electrical terminal comprising a shank having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the wide portion being adapted to engage a male electrical terminal, and the narrow portion being adapted for connection to at least one electrical conductor. The tool comprises a head member and an elongate handle secured to the head member and disposed at an angle thereto. Opposed sidewall portions are formed integral with the head member and are adapted to at least partially encompass the wide portion so as to limit the deformation of the wide portion as the female electrical terminal is installed over a male electrical terminal. At least one stop portion is formed integral with said head member and is adapted to engage the end of the wide portion adjacent its juncture with the narrow portion to limit the relative movement of the female electrical terminal and the head member. The angle between the head member and the elongate handle is adapted to minimize interference by the handle with the electrical conductor connected to the female electrical terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a female electrical terminal installed upon a male electrical terminal, the female terminal being of the type which may be readily installed by my tool;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the terminals of FIG. 1 prior to the installation of the female electrical terminal onto the male electrical terminal, and showing a first embodiment of the tool of my invention approaching engagement with the female terminal;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2 showing a second embodiment of my tool in engagement with the female terminal prior to its installation onto the male electrical tenninal;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 3 showing a third embodiment of my tool in engagement with the female terminal, the female terminal being shown inverted from the position of FIG. 3 and in engagement with the male terminal;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the tool of FIG. 2 illustrating various details thereof; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a terminal block having a plurality of closely spaced male electrical connectors extending outwardly therefrom onto which have been installed female electrical terminals, the tool of FIG. 3 being 7 shown in engagement with one of these female terminals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIG. 1 thereof, there is illustrated a female electrical terminal 10 of the type adapted for use with the tool of my invention, the female terminal 10 being shown installed upon a male electrical terminal 11 which extends outwardly from a supporting casing wall 12. The female terminal 10 may comprise a shank having a wide portion 13 and a narrow portion 14, the wide portion 13 having opposed resilient gripping portions 15 formed adjacent one end of the shank and integral therewith. The resilient gripping portions 15 are adapted to engage a male electrical terminal and to frictionally retain the position of the female terminal upon the male terminal once installed thereon. The narrow portion 14 is adapted, adjacent the other end of the shank, for connection to at least one electrical conductor 16 which may comprise a wire 17 having an insulating cover 18 formed coaxially therewith. The narrow portion 14 may be provided with opposed tabs 19 which are crimped into electrical contact with the wire 17, or with other suitable conductor-engaging means which may be secured both to the wire 17 and the insulation 18.

As previously stated, it is desirable to provide a tool for installing such a female electrical terminal upon a male terminal wherein the tool is operative to limit the deformation of the female terminal during installation thereby assuring an operable electrical connection, and wherein the interference by the tool with electrical conductors secured to the female terminal being installed is minimized. In accordance with my invention, as shown in FIG. 2, such a tool is provided comprising a head member 20 having an elongate handle 21 secured thereto. In the arrangement of FIG. 2, head member 20 is shown approaching engagement with female terminal 10 and prior to the installation of female terminal 10 onto male terminal 11.

The head member 20 of my tool has opposed sidewall portions 22 formed integral therewith, the sidewall portions 22 being adapted to slip over the opposed resilient gripping portions 15 of terminal 10 and to partially encompass the resilient gripping portions 15 so as to limit the deformation thereof as the female terminal 10 is installed over male terminal 11. Also formed integrallywith head member 20 are opposed stop portions 23 adapted to engage the resilient gripping portions 15 at the juncture of the wide portion 13 and narrow portion 14 of the female terminal to limit the relative movement of the female terminal 10 and head member 20.

The engagement of female terminal 10 and head member 20 may be better understood by referring to FIG. 3 wherein the opposed resilient gripping portions of terminal 10 are partially encompassed by opposed sidewall portions 22 and engaged by opposed stop portions 23. In this position, it may be seen that opposed sidewall portions 22 are adapted to limit the opening or outward deformation of resilient gripping portions 15, and stop portions 23 are adapted to carry female terminal 10 in a direction approaching male terminal 11.

The deformation limiting function of opposed sidewall portions is not defeated by an inversion of female terminal 10 from the position of FIGS. l-3. Turning to FIG. 4 it will be seen that female terminal 10 is inverted whereby resilient gripping portions face downwardly rather than upwardly. A comparison of the operation of head member is the situations of FIGS. 3 and 4 is better illustrated by referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, FIG. 5 being taken in section from FIG. 3, and FIG. 6 being taken in section from FIG. 4. In both FIGS. 5 and 6 it will be seen that sidewall portions 22 are operative to limit the opening or outward deformation of resilient gripping portions 15, FIGS. 4 and 6 showing the female terminal 10 installed over male terminal 11.

It is a significant feature of my invention that elongate handle 21 is disposed at an angle 24 to head member 20, the angle 24 being adapted to minimize interference by the handle with such electrical conductors 16 as may be secured to the female terminal 10. FIGS. 24 illustrate three possible embodiments of my device wherein angle 24 is varied to minimize interference with electrical conductors l6 and to augment installation from various positions of access. In FIG. 2, angle 24 is shown as approximately 30, the handle 21 being disposed in coplanar relation to head member 20. In FIG. 3, angle 24 is shown greater than 30 with handle 21 being disposed out of coplanar relation to head member 20. The embodiment of FIG. 4 features angle 24 approximating 90 and in coplanar relation to head member 20. It will be obvious that various modifications of angle 24 both within and without a coplanar relation to head member 20 may be made to suit specific available angles of access for tool operation As may be seen in FIG. 7 wherein the tool of FIG. 2 is shown in bottom view elongate handle 21 may comprise a shaft 25 secured to head member 20 by opposed clamping portions 26 formed integrally therewith. Clamping portions 26 may be rigidly fastened to shaft 25 by any suitable means such as spot welding whereby the head member 20 is rigidly connected to the elongate handle 21.

One of many situations in which the tool of my invention has particular application is illustrated in FIG. 8 wherein a plurality of male electrical terminals 11 are shown extending outwardly in closely spaced arrangement from a supporting casing wall 12. As may be seen in FIG. 8, the tool embodiment of FIG. 2 is particularly well adapted to permit the selective installation of female terminals I0 onto male terminals II so arranged without interfering with surrounding terminals.

As was previously mentioned the tool of my invention is particularly adapted for use in connection with the installation of female electrical terminals onto male terminals wherein it is desirable to provide a tool which will limit the deformation of the female terminal during installation without interfering which such electrical conductors as may be connected to the female terminal.

From the foregoing description it should now be apparent that the present invention, being simple in configuration, compact in form, and having a head member which partially encompasses the female terminal and an elongate handle disposed at an angle thereto, provides such a tool which engages the installation of wire-carrying female electrical terminals onto male terminals with proper electrical connection therebetween.

As Will be evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of the construction of the examples illustrated, and it is contemplated that other modifications, applications or variations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended to cover such modifications, applications and variations as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

l. A tool adapted to releasably engage and carry a female electrical terminal comprising a shank having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the wide portion being adapted to engage a male electrical terminal, and the narrow portion being adapted for connection to at least one electrical conductor, the tool comprising:

a head member;

opposed sidewall portions formed integral with said head member and being adapted to at least partially encompass the wide portion so as to limit the deformation of the wide portion as the female electrical terminal is installed over a male electrical terminal;

at least one stop portion formed integral with said head member and adapted to engage the end of the wide portion adjacent its juncture with the narrow portion to limit the relative movement of the female electrical terminal and said head member; and

an elongate handle secured to said head member and disposed at an angle thereto, said angle being adapted to minimize interference by said handle with the electrical conductor connected to the female electrical terminal.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said at least one stop portion comprises a pair of opposed stop portions formed adjacent said opposed sidewall portions.

3. A tool adapted to releasably engage and carry a female electrical terminal comprising a shank having opposed resilient gripping portions formed adjacent one end of the shank and integral therewith, the gripping portions being adapted to engage a male electrical terminal, the shank being adapted adjacent its other end for connection to at least one electrical conductor, the tool comprising:

a head member;

opposed sidewall portions formed integral with said head member and being adapted to at least partially encompass the resilient gripping portions so as to limit the deformation thereof as the female electrical terminal is installed over a male electrical terminal;

at least one stop portion formed integral with said head member and adapted to engage the resilient gripping portions to limit the relative movement of the female electrical terminal and said head member; and

an elongate handle secured to said head member and disposed at an angle thereto, said angle being adapted to minimize interference by said handle with the electrical conductor connected to the female electrical terminal.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said at least one stop portion comprises a pair of opposed stop portions formal adjacent said opposed sidewall portions.

5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said angle is at least 30. 

1. A tool adapted to releasably engage and carry a female electrical terminal comprising a shank having a wide portion and a narrow portion, the wide portion being adapted to engage a male electrical terminal, and the narrow portion being adapted for connection to at least one electrical conductor, the tool comprising: a head member; opposed sidewall portions formed integral with said head member and being adapted to at least partially encompass the wide portion so as to limit the deformation of the wide portion as the female electrical terminal is installed over a male electrical terminal; at least one stop portion formed integral with said head member and adapted to engage the end of the wide portion adjacent its juncture with the narrow portion to limit the relative movement of the female electrical terminal and said head member; and an elongate handle secured to said head member and disposed at an angle thereto, said angle being adapted to minimize interference by said handle with the electrical conductor connected to the female electrical terminal.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said at least one stop portion comprises a pair of opposed stop portions formed adjacent said opposed sidewall portions.
 3. A tool adapted to releasably engage and carry a female electrical terminal comprising a shank having opposed resilient gripping portions formed adjacent one end of the shank and integral therewith, the gripping portions being adapted to engage a male electrical terminal, the shank being adapted adjacent its other end for connection to at least one electrical conductor, the tool comprising: a head member; opposed sidewall portions formed integral with said head member and being adapted to at least partially encompass the resilient gripping portions so as to limit the deformation thereof as the female electrical terminal is installed over a male electrical terminal; at least one stop portion formed integral with said head member and adapted to engage the resilient gripping portions to limit the relative movement of the female electrical terminal and said head member; and an elongate handle secured to said head member and disposed at an angle thereto, said angle being adapted to minimize interference by said Handle with the electrical conductor connected to the female electrical terminal.
 4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said at least one stop portion comprises a pair of opposed stop portions formal adjacent said opposed sidewall portions.
 5. The invention of claim 3 wherein said angle is at least 30*. 